Across the corn belt depending on time of year | There are a number of effective ways to manage rootworm. Since you are in southern MN, you have the joy of managing both western corn rootworm and northern corn rootworm with extended diapause. I am guessing your damage after beans is from Northern corn rootworm and its extended diapause.
Do you have trait failure in your area or on your farm? A short distance south in Iowa, trait failure to Qrome and SmartStak is not hard to find. A couple of fields located in Newell and Spencer, IA had significant rootworm damage to SmartStak Pro. SmartStak Pro uses the same RNAi toxin as Vorceed. I posted some pictures from these fields on Ag Talk last late July. (use the search words "smartstak pro")
The other thing to consider is the choice of soil insecticide is important since the efficacy varies wildly. Many in the industry will tell you that bifenthrin at planting is not effective and a waste of money. The other chemicals are more effective. One thing to remember about soil insecticide placed in/over the seed row. Soil insecticide only gives the farmer a sense of false security because this placement of insecticide only protects the plant base and standability at harvest. Few rootworms are killed because pesticides in the soil only move downward, not sidewise. You are protecting the food source for rootworms out in the row. A study in the 1970's showed that more rootworm adults emerged from an insecticide treated acre than an untreated acre. As a result, you have more adults flying around which you get the pleasure of beetle bombing during pollination.
What is the most effective way to manage rootworm? Use an effective RW trait. When it starts failing, consider the addition of biocontrol nematodes.
Full disclosure: I am the scientist who discovered this technology, I am also involved with the company, Persistent Biocontrol who is making this technology available to corn farmers nation wide.
Do a search on Ag Talk using the search words "biocontrol nematodes" to see all the past conversations about this technology. There are people on this forum who watched the technology develop over the past 30+ years when I was at Cornell, there are people on this forum who have adopted this technology on part or all of their farm and there are people just trying the technology for the first time.
call up the web page: www.persistentbiocontrol.com
Current acreage inoculated in Iowa now exceeds 40,000 acres. Farmers in SW MN are trying the technology
More questions, post them and I will attempt to answer or shoot me an email
Edited by Nematotode-guy 12/5/2025 11:36
|
In furrow insecticide, traits, both?
